Bracelet



Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,532

L. E. VALCOU RT BRACELET Filed March 28, 1924 mv E7 7 F gwventoz Jy l LaajsE/alozzrz 17"? f '3 MM Patented F eb. 2, 1926ld unirse stares' Parent orales.

LOUIS E. VLCUURT, 0F PRG'VIDENCE, .RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB. T0 LOUI"STERN C0., F PIRVIDENCE, BHODE ISLAND, A CORPORAT'IDN 0F RHODE ISLAND.

BRACELET.

Application ined nai-en 2e,

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, LOUIS E. VALcoUn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain-new and 'useful Improvements in Bracelets, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of bracelets or chains formed of a plurality of'links flexibly connected together; and the object of this invention is the construction of such a bracelet or chain having links mounted to telescope one within the other to render the same extendible in the direction of its length.

A further object of this invention is to construct a series of outer links in box shape and a series of inner links in somewhat of a band shape to slide in the box links, whereby when extended only plain surfaces on the top and bottom of these slide links are exposed from either the front or back of the chain.

A further object of this invention is to pivotally connect the box link members with the slide link members whereby the bracelet or chain is rendered very flexible and a spring is provided to act upon these links to return them either when extended or flexed out of their normal contracted position.

With these and other invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation showing a portion of a bracelet of my improved construction as provided with hooks on its ends for attachment to a wristfwatch.

Figure 2 is a perspective view .in detail objects in view, the

showing one of the outer box-shaped links which is preferably formed of a short length of tubing having bendable connecting fingers at either end.

Figure 3 is apperspective view showing the development of one of the inner links as cut from sheet stock.

Figure 4 shows the stock illustrated in Figure 3, as bent up into the form of a slide link, the ends of the folded member tom View of l nected together by 13,24. Serial No. 702,702.

being locked together by a tongue folded through an eye in the opposite end.

F1gure 5 is a perspective view of a separate abutment member which is positioned and supported at one end of each box member and within the slide member to serve as a guide for the spring and astop for limiting the spring compressing movement of the slide link.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of a number of the links assembled and the slide links partially drawn out from the box links.

Figure 7 is a central sectional ed e view of tie assembled parts illustrated in Figure Figure 8 represents both a top and a bot4 reduced size showing the links the plain surfaces of thel slide links as being partially exposed.

Figure 9 is an edge view showing the links partially extended.

`Figure 10 is a perspective viewshowing a 'link with an inturned connecting lipat either end.

Figure lsl is a perspective view showing a box link with an inturned connecting lip at one end and bendable lingers at the opposite end.

Figure 12 shows a spring connectin clip which serves to connect the inturned lips of two of these box links together.

Figure 13 shows two of the box links conthe spring clip.

It is found in the practical construction and operation of bracelets of this characteil to so formthepartsthat they may all be made automatically by machinery and bent or folded into shape and assembled or connected together without the use of solder, the heat of which detrimentally affects and extended and discolors the finish of the stock, and the folfnates the outer box-shaped links which may be constructed in any suitable way but which are preferably formed from 'a length of tubing, the same having a pair of ears l1 and 12 on opposite ends of its side walls.l

he inner telescoping or slide link 13 is formed, preferablyof sheet stock, as illustrated in Figure 3, having a slot 14 at one `ly-extendiiij.; arms vthe spring 19 end and a tongue 15 at its opposite end also this blank is providedlwith a pair of lateral- 16 Aat the center` portion or fold thereof. In forming this slide link this blank folded at its center portion as illustrated in re 4, forming an end wall 17 at the fold its free ends' bein shaped to lie-one inside of the other an the ton ue 15 is assed throu h the opening 14 an is sharpi bent or olded back over the stock of the other end to rmly lock these ends together.

The arms 16are also folded inwardly to ward each other to lie against the end wall 17 and their extremities are' turned outwardly as at 18 forming a pair of convenient coi s of .the spring 19. j

In connecting the box links to the slide links the fingers 12 on the box link are at one end folded inwardly, as best illustrated in Figure `6 to engage thedouble or reinforced end walll 20 of the slide link 13 thereby lpivctally connecting the slide link to the box link ermitting one to swing upon the other and) obtain unusual flexibility in this chain or bracelet.y A

In order to provide a suitable abutment for the end of the coiled spring positioned op site that which engages the arms 18, ave provided an abutment plate 21 best fingers for engaging or extending into the I shown in Figure 5,. which has a` broadened base ,portion 22 positioned to -rest against the pair of inturned 11 of the box link and this abutmentmember is provided with a pair of inwardly-extending arms 23 which are spaced apart for the reception of which is guided between them, er 24 being also provided to is spring to assist in retaining a central fin extend into t it in the desired operating osition.

'These side arms 23 in a tion to serving as guides for the s ring are also ada ted to engagethe end wal 17 of the slide ink to 'limit the spring compressin f movement of these links and so prevent t e spring from becoming unduly7 com ressed and injured.

It wil b struction of the members of t e bracelet that the outer or box members may be readily formed of tubular stock if desired with the little ears 'or lingers formed `integral at 'their ends. The inner or slide link is so cut 4from sheet stock, that it may be folded into shape and locked into position by the bending of the tongues 15 through the eyeA 14, then -the parts including the abutment and spring may be assembled one within the other and the whole connected by -simply bending inwardly the ears or ngfers 11 and 12 of the box links.

In some instances it is found desirable to be able to readily connect or remove one or morelinks to or from the bracelet to change e noted that y my im roved conbox link, each slide -at one end to the next adjacent box link,

10 and 11 both of which are of the box ty and have the outward appearance of t eA ave providedb its operating length to fit arms of diierent i rest of the links of' the bracelet but which are not capable of beingextended like those links. The link shown in Figure 10 is provided with an inturned lip 25 at either end and is used'exclusively as a spacin or enlarging link for the bracelet and t at type illustrated in Figure 11 has an inturned lip 26 on one end and bendable connecting fingers 27 on its opposite end. Those links ormed with'the inturned lips 25 and 26 may be releasably connected together by meansoi the U-shapedvspring connector 28 which is' provided with an eye 29 of a width toireceive both ,the li 25 of one link and the lip 26 ,of the next link to lock them to ether in the manner shown in Figure 13. sualtwo or three of these extra links are insorted into the center portion of a bracelet when new to formit of maximum length` `and may be readily removed to reduce its len h to fit the arm of the wearer. y im roved chain or bracelet is very practical in construction and is very stron and durable and may be made very han some and attractive in appearance and the broad exposed top and bottom surfaces of the inner links of the chain may also be ornamented to further render the device handsome and attractive in appearance.

The foregoingdescription is directed soletowards the construction illustrated, but

l lydesire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links, a slide link in each box link, inwardlyrejecting fingers on the end of the box link pivotally connecting it to the next adjacent slide link, and a spring acting between said-links for normally causing the ends of said box links to abut.

2. An extendible bracelet structure comprisin a series of box links, -a band-sha d slide link in each box link, fingers exten ing inwardly from 'the op site side walls of the box links adjacent t eir ends to pivotalengage one end of the next band-shaped adjacent slide link,and sprin means acting bet-Ween the box and slide li s to cause the links to normally assume a contracted position.

3. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of box links, a slide link in each link being connected each of said slide links being formed of a strip of metal folded into band sha and disposed in its box link with its wal s arallel to the back and front Walls of the x, and integral interlocking means for securing the meeting ends of the band together.

4. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of box links in which are mounted to slide a series of slide links', a spring having an abut-ment at its'opiposite ends and acting between said box lin s and slide links to normally hold themcontracted, said box links having a set of inturned fingers at either end, one set being for pivotally connecting it to the next adjacent 'sllde link and the other set for supporting a spring abutment member. c

5. A bracelet-structure comprising a serles of box links, a slide link in each of said box links having top,'bottom, and end walls, a sprin tending to house the slide link in, its box llnk, a longitudinally inwardly-extending finger at one end vof said slide link for extending and retaining an end of the spring, and a separate spring guiding member also positioned in the slide link and supported from its box to serve as an abutment and guide for the opposite end of the spring. 6. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links anda slide link in each of said box links formed of a strip of metal folded to provide top, bottom, and end Walls, a spring tending to house each slide link in its box, a longitudinally inwardly extending member integral with said slide link at its fold to extend into and guide one end of the spring and an abutment member supported b the box link for receiving the 4opposite-en of said spring.

7. A bracelet'structure .comprising a series of box links and a slide link in each ofy said box links formed of a strip of metal folded to provide top, bottom, and end walls, a spring tending to house each slide link in its box, an inwardly-extending member integral with said slide at its fold to guide one end of the spring, and a separateA band formto form a connecting link havino' top, bottom, and end Walls with open si es andone normally housed in each of said boxes, ,fingers on one end of said boxes for securing one end of the next adjacent link thereto, an abutment member in each of4 said links, lingers on the opposite end of' said boxes folded inwardly through the sides of said links for engaging said member, and a spring acting between said member and link for yieldingly causing the ends of said boxes to abut.

9. An extendible bracelet chain structure comprisin a series of box linksf band connecting llnks carried b each box link, means for connecting eac i band link to one of its adjacent box links, uide members in each of said connecting 1in s, fingers on said boxes engaging said member, a spring acting between said member and connecting link to yieldably draw the ends of said box links towards each other, and a` stop carried by said guide member for limiting the expanding movement of said chain links.

10. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links o eratively connected through a. series of side links extendibly mounted therein, and abox link intermediate t-he ends of the bracelethaving a pair of inWardly-bendable fingers on both of its ends for en aging ythe next adjacent slide links on bot of its ends.

11. A braceletstruoture comprising a series of box links operatively connected through a' series of slide links extendibly .mounted therein, and a pluralityof removable box links connected -intermediate the ends of the bracelets having inwardly /e'xtendini portions /clamped together.

12. 'racelet structure comprising a series of box links operatively connected through 'a series of slide links extendibly4 mounted therein, a plurality of removable box links,connected intermediate the ends of the bracelet having inwardly-extending' portions clamped together, and a spring clamp engaging said inwardly-extending portions or releasablyconnecting their links together.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

l YLOUIS E. vALfooURT-- 

